Vapor was discovered in the atmosphere of the solar system’s largest moon, the cone

For the first time, Astronomers Have found steam inAtmosphere One of the four Galilean moons of Canyme Thursday. This finding reinforces its interest நிலா We know today that she is Sea of ​​liquid salt water, Trapped between two layers of ice more than 160 km from its surface. Just like Europe CallistoThe other two moons of Jupiter.

We owe this discovery to a team of astronomers Lawrence Roth You KTH Royal Institute of Technology From Stockholm, Sweden, digs up old dataHubble In order to prepare observations of Mission Juno, This incredible invention. In fact, underlined Newsletter from ESA and NASA, Life as we know it may be where the water is “However, if this condition is necessary for the existence of a life form, no matter how simple it may be, it is not enough. You need a proof.Energy And essential elements (The Carbon C, L ‘Hydrogen H, Nitrogen N, Oxygen O, Phosphorus B and Sulfur S) are grouped together under the abbreviation CHNOPS.

Initial data was misunderstood

By comparison Spectra Performed by Hubble’s Stiz Instrument onUV In 1998 and 2010, with the most recent observations in 2018 by the COS instrument for measuring the amount of atomic oxygen in the atmosphere of Ganymede, astronomers realized that the initial data had been misunderstood. Although it was assumed from 1998 observations that there was atomic oxygen in the galaxy’s atmosphere, astronomers concluded that, in the end, there was not much molecular oxygen in the galaxy’s atmosphere.

To illustrate this finding, Lawrence Lot’s team observed that the surface temperature of the conime was close throughout the day and near noon.equator, Which can receive enough heat to release small amounts of water molecules on the ice surface. In fact, the differences between the UV images obtained at different times (from 1998, 2010 and 2018) are directly related to the expected location of water in the lunar atmosphere. ” Initially, o₂ Observed, Explained Lawrence Roth. This occurs when charged particles erode the surface of the ice. The water we now measure comes from steam Sublimation Ice due to leakage of hot steam from H₂Warm icy areas. »

Jupiter’s moons are believed to be home to deep habitats

This finding reinforces the glamor Work juice The purpose is to monitor the European Space Agency’s, especially the canyon. Launched in 2022, Juice Will reach Jupiter in 2029. He will work for at least three years to see Jupiter and conduct in-depth studies of its three largest frozen moons (Europa, Gonimet and Callisto). ” Beyond ours, juice can be very important in determining the viability of planets that can show oceans. “, Underlined Günther Hasinger, Director of Scientific ProjectsThat. If the schedule goes as planned, this work is expected to be completed by June 2033.

That’s why the Lawrence Roth team’s results. Provide juice tool groups with accurate information to streamline monitoring programs to improve juice usage .